Knitted fabric with different pile lengths, knit product and socks using the same

ABSTRACT

A knitted fabric that has a three-dimensional appearance includes a plurality of knitting structures of different pile lengths. The knitting structures include a plain stitch of ground yarn and pile yarn, a low-pile stitch in which a sinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longer than that of ground yarn, and a high-pile stitch in which the sinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longer than that in the low-pile stitch. A pile motif is formed by selectively arranging, in the same course, the low-pile stitch and the high-pile stitch in a region of the plain stitches on a stitch-by-stitch basis or by selectively arranging, in the same course, the high-pile stitch in a region of the low-pile stitches on a stitch-by-stitch basis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to knitted fabric including a pile motifdrawn and formed by a circular knitting machine (i.e., knitted fabricwith different pile lengths) and a knit product and socks (i.e.,products with different pile lengths).

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional sock made of pile fabric has a sole portion which isentirely formed by pile stitches. A pile stitch refers to a knittingstructure having a longer sinker-loop length of pile yarn than that ofground yarn. The reason why the entire sole portion is formed by thepile stitches is mainly to maintain the foot temperature and to reducean impact applied to a foot during walking or running. In this case,however, the entire sole portion of the sock becomes thicker and causesdifficulty in distributing sweat or humidity from a foot to a shoe,resulting in sweaty feelings. Thus, a sock has been developed whichincludes pile stitches only in a necessary portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,061 discloses a sock including three knittingstructures, i.e., a knitting structure in which a sinker-loop length ofpile yarn is longer than that of ground yarn (hereinafter, referred toas a “low-pile stitch”), another knitting structure in which thesinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longer than that in the low-pilestitch (hereinafter, referred to as a “high-pile stitch”), and a basicknitting structure in which the sinker-loop lengths of the ground yarnand the pile yarn are the same (hereinafter, referred to as a “plainstitch”), for example. Moreover, arranging a float stitch, a tuckstitch, or a cut-boss stitch as a varied knitting structure in place ofthe plan stitch is also known.

People's preferences have become diversified along with diversificationof information and techniques, and therefore highly fashionable knitproducts are needed as an expression of personality. In order to providesuch highly-fashionable knit products, it is necessary for the knitproduct to have an excellent or beautiful design in the appearance or onthe surface of the knit product. The excellent or beautiful design canbe obtained by giving a fine three-dimensional appearance to the surfaceof the knit product, for example. In addition, the knit product is notonly used for clothes, but may be required to have additional values insome cases. The additional value can be added by using a finethree-dimensional appearance formed on the surface of the knit productto enhance the functionality, e.g., comfort while being worn, forexample. In order to manufacture such knit products while pursuingimproved designs and functionality, merely distributing a plurality ofdifferent knitting structures, e.g., a basic stitch (or a variedstitch), a high-pile stitch and a low-pile stitch is not sufficient. Aknitted fabric with the different knitting structures distributed morefinely on a stitch-by-stitch basis is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide fabric withdifferent pile lengths which can give a three-dimensional appearance byforming a fine pile motif on one surface of a knit product, and a knitproduct and socks providing that fabric.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a knittedfabric including different pile lengths is provided in which a pilemotif is formed by a knitting machine capable of forming a plurality ofknitting structures of ground yarn and pile yarn in a same course byselectively moving sinkers in and out of between reciprocating knittingneedles. The plurality of knitting structures preferably include a firstknitting structure defining one of a basic knitting structure and avaried knitting structure; a second knitting structure in which asinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longer than a sinker-loop lengthof the ground yarn; and a third knitting structure in which thesinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longer than in the secondknitting structure. The pile motif preferably is formed by selectivelyarranging the second knitting structure and the third knitting structureon a stitch-by-stitch basis in a region of the first knitting structurein a same course, or by selectively arranging the third knittingstructure on a stitch-by-stitch basis in a region of the second knittingstructure in the same course.

The basic knitting structure according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent application preferably includes a plain stitch in which thesinker-loop lengths of the ground yarn and the pile yarn aresubstantially the same as each other, and the like. The varied knittingstructure in a preferred embodiment of the present invention preferablyincludes a float stitch in which the pile yarn is not knitted butremains floated, a tuck stitch formed by, while a formed stitch is keptcaught by a needle, knitting two or more stitches in together, acut-boss stitch in which the float stitch is applied and a pattern isformed by inserting color yarn from a separate yarn guide, and the like.

The knitted fabric including different pile lengths according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention can preferably be formedby a circular knitting machine capable of forming a plurality ofknitting structures of ground yarn and pile yarn in the same course bymoving a pair of sinkers including a first pile sinker and a second pilesinker in and out of between reciprocating knitting needles, forexample.

According to a control process for forming knitting structures byselectively driving the sinkers in the circular knitting machine, thedifference between the knitting structures, i.e., the sinker-looplengths correspond to the distance from a contact point between the pileyarn and the ground yarn and the sinker and a contact point between thepile yarn and the ground yarn and the knitting needle. Therefore,selecting which one of the sinkers is used to hold the pile yarn and theground yarn and/or which one of the nibs is used by selecting whetherthe sinker is to be moved forward or backward enables the knittingstructures including different sinker-loop (pile) lengths (i.e., thefirst to third knitting structures) to be knitted. For example, all ofthe first knitting control process in which both the first and secondsinkers are not moved forward, the second knitting control process inwhich one of the sinkers, i.e., the first sinker is moved, and the thirdknitting control process in which the other sinker, i.e., the secondsinker is moved, are selectively carried out by an actuator. Thus, aknitted fabric in which stitches of different knitting structures aredistributed on a stitch-by-stitch basis can be provided.

By selectively arranging, in the same course, the second knittingstructure and the third knitting structure on a stitch-by-stitch basisin a region of the first knitting structure or by selectively arranging,in the same course, the third knitting structure on a stitch-by-stitchbasis in a region of the second knitting structure, a fine pile motifcan be drawn on one surface of a knit product and therefore athree-dimensional effect can be presented.

The above knitted fabric may include a forward-rotation region formed byforward rotation of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine and areciprocating rotation region formed by reciprocating rotation of thecylinder, and the pile motif may be arranged to extend across theforward-rotation region and the reciprocating-rotation region.

Please note that the term “cylinder” refers to a substantially tubularcomponent of the circular knitting machine which accommodates theknitting needles therein. By rotation of this cylinder around avertically extending center line thereof as a rotation axis, theknitting needles move vertically to form a knitted fabric.

The term “forward rotation” refers to counterclockwise rotation of thecylinder when the circular knitting machine is seen from above in thevertical direction of the cylinder, and the term “reverse rotation”refers to clockwise rotation of the cylinder. In addition, the term“reciprocating rotation” refers to the movement of the cylinder inwhich, while forward rotation of one revolution and reverse rotation ofone revolution are alternately repeated, knitting is performed only bythe knitting needles for the semicircle of the cylinder.

Due to this, in the knitted fabric including different pile lengths, itis possible to form a complicated pile motif in which stitches ofdifferent knitting structures are distributed on a stitch-by-stitchbasis even in a portion knitted by reciprocating rotation, e.g., a heelportion or a toe portion of a sock. Consequently, a three-dimensionalappearance can be given to any portion of a knit product, and thereforeknitted fabric with different pile lengths can be provided which cangive more improved fashionability and functionality.

The above-described knitted fabric may include a forward-rotation regionformed by forward-rotation of the cylinder of the circular knittingmachine and a reciprocating-rotation region formed by reciprocatingrotation of the cylinder, and the pile motif may be arranged to extendacross the forward-rotation region and the reciprocating rotationregion.

In this case, in the knitted fabric including different pile lengths, itis possible to form a complicated pile motif in which stitches ofdifferent knitting structures are distributed on a stitch-by-stitchbasis continuously from a portion next to the reciprocating-rotationregion such as a heel or a top of a sock to that reciprocating-rotationregion. Consequently, it is possible to give a three-dimensionalappearance to any portion of a knit product and therefore to provide theknitted fabric including different pile lengths which can provide moreimproved fashionability and functionality.

The above-described knitted fabric including different pile lengths canbe applied to a knit product. Also, the above-described knitted fabriccan be applied to a sock. For example, by applying the aforementionedknitted fabric including the different pile lengths to a knit productsuch as a sock, a leg portion and a foot portion which are important toenhance fashionability can made fashionable or stylish in a suitable wayand the functionality such as wearing comfort can be improved.Especially, when a three-dimensional appearance is provided to the sockby providing a complicated pile motif in a toe portion and a heelportion of the sock which are formed by reciprocating rotation so thatthe pile motif continuously extends from a region other than the toeportion or the heel portion to the toe portion or the heel portion,highly enhanced fashion can be presented not only when a person wearingsuch socks goes out with shoes but also in a room where the shoes aretaken off. In addition, it is possible to provide improved functionalitysuch as wearing comfort even to a portion in which the functionalitycould not be improved in accordance with a conventional technique.

In the above-described knit product, at least one of the first knittingstructure, the second knitting structure, and the third knittingstructure may be selectively arranged in accordance with a distancebetween the selected knitting structure and skin when the knit productis worn.

In this case, when the knit product is applied to a leg wear, forexample, the first knitting structure provided at a portion which iscloser to the skin when the leg wear is worn, and the second knittingstructure and/or the third knitting structure in which the sinker-looplength of the pile yarn is longer than that of the ground yarn can beprovided at a portion which is farther from the skin. Thus, the distancebetween the skin and the knitting structure can be reduced even in aportion that is spaced away from the skin when the knit product is wornin accordance with a conventional technique. Therefore, wearing comfortcan be improved.

In the above-described knit product, at least one of the first knittingstructure, the second knitting structure, and the third knittingstructure may be selectively arranged in accordance with a magnitude ofa load applied thereto when the knit product is worn.

In this case, when this knit product is applied to a leg wear, forexample, the second knitting structure and/or the third knittingstructure in which the sinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longerthan that of the ground yarn can be applied to a portion to which arelatively large load is applied when the leg wear is worn. Thus, theportion subjected to the load can be made thicker. Therefore, the impactapplied during walking or running can be significantly reduced.

In the above-described knit product, a gore line may be defined by thesecond knitting structure or the third knitting structure.

The term “gore line” refers to a boundary of portions where stitchdecrease and stitch increase are performed, respectively, duringreciprocating rotation of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine.For example, a pocket-shaped portion such as a heel and a toe of a sockare knitted by reciprocating rotation of the cylinder of the circularknitting machine with decreasing and increasing needles in the needlesfor the semicircular of the circular knitting machine.

In this case, because the second knitting structure or the thirdknitting structure is preferably arranged at the gore line, the pileyarn can stretch. Therefore, a stretching feeling at the gore line canbe eased.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, a fine pilemotif can be provided on one surface of a knit product, thereby giving athree-dimensional effect.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of multi-pile knitted fabric according to afirst preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a sock including the multi-pile knitted fabricaccording to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of knitting structures in a portion of thesock of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a low-pile sinker and a high-pile sinker opposed to eachother in an exemplary circular knitting machine for forming themulti-pile knitted fabric of the first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, explaining a difference of a nib position between thelow-pile sinker and the high-pile sinker.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show how to hold pile yarn and ground yarn in casesof forming a plain stitch, a low-pile stitch, and a high-pile stitch,respectively.

FIG. 6 is a developed view of a toe portion of a sock according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a developed view of a toe portion of a sock according to athird preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a developed view of a sock of a fourth preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view a Japanese sock according to a fifthpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention aredescribed, referring to FIGS. 1 through 9 in which the same referencesigns refer to the same or equivalent elements. Please note that thedimension ratio is not coincident with that in the description. In thedescription, the term describing the direction such as “upper”, “lower”or the like is used for convenience based on the state shown in thedrawings.

First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a portion of a multi-pile knitted fabric(in which a pile length is varied) according to the first preferredembodiment of the present invention and shows stitches therein. Theportion shown in FIG. 1 includes a plain stitch (first knittingstructure) P₀ in which both pile yarn 91 and ground yarn 92 are knittedtogether and a sinker-loop length of the pile yarn 91 is the same asthat of the ground yarn 92; a low-pile stitch (second knittingstructure) P₁ in which the sinker-loop length of the pile yarn 91 islonger than that of the ground yarn 92; and a high-pile stitch (thirdknitting structure) P₂ in which the sinker-loop length of the pile yarn91 is longer than that in the low-pile stitch P₁. The low-pile stitch P₁is also referred to as a short-pile stitch and the high-pile stitch P₂is also referred to as a long-pile stitch.

The multi-pile knitted fabric 10 can include a pile motif formed byselectively arranging the low-pile stitch P₁ and the high-pile stitch P₂on a stitch-by-stitch basis in a portion of the plain stitches P₀ in thesame course by using a circular knitting machine, or by selectivelyarranging the high-pile stitch P₂ on a stitch-by-stitch basis in aportion of the low-pile stitches P₁ in the same course. Thus, a finepile motif can be provided on one surface of a knit product and it istherefore possible to give a three-dimensional appearance to the knitproduct. Please note that in the multi-pile knitted fabric 10 of FIG. 1a row of stitches refers to “a course” and the horizontal directionrefers to “a course direction” or “circumferential direction”.

A sock (i.e., an exemplary knit product) made of the multi-pile knittedfabric 10 (shown in FIG. 1) according to the first preferred embodimentof the present invention will now be described. FIG. 2 is a side view ofthe sock made of the multi-pile knitted fabric according to the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, thesock 1 includes a toe portion 3 for covering a toe, a foot portion 4continuously formed with the toe portion 3 to cover an instep and anarch, a heel portion 5 continuously formed with the foot portion 4 forcovering a heel, and a leg portion 6 continuously formed with the heelportion 5 for covering an ankle and a calf.

In the sock 1, the heel portion 5 to which a load is applied is definedby high-pile stitches P₂, and a portion of the foot portion 4 providedto cover an instep and the leg portion 6 both of which are subjected toa relatively small load applied thereto are defined by plain stitchesP₀. The sole of the toe portion 3 is defined by high-pile stitches P₂and low-pile stitches P₁, while the top portion of the toe portion 3 isdefined by low-pile stitches P₁ and plain stitches P₀. A boundaryportion 4 a which is positioned around a boundary between the legportion 6 and the instep portion of the foot portion 4 is defined byhigh-pile stitches P₂. The leg portion 6 other than the boundary portion4 a is defined by plain stitches P₀, low-pile stitches P₁, and high-pilestitches P₂, and more particularly, in a portion of the plain stitchesP₀ the low-pile stitches P₁ and the high-pile stitches P₂ are arrangedto extend obliquely downward as shown in FIG. 2.

The multi-pile knitted fabric 10 includes a forward-rotation portionformed by forward rotation of a cylinder of a circular knitting machineand a reciprocating-rotation portion formed by reciprocating rotation ofthe cylinder. In the sock 1 shown in FIG. 2, the foot portion 4 and theleg portion 6 are the forward-rotation portion, while the toe portion 3and the heel portion 5 are the reciprocating-rotation portion.

In the sock 1 of this preferred embodiment, the heel portion 5 as thereciprocating-rotation portion is formed by selectively arranging thelow-pile stitch P₁ and the high-pile stitch P₂ on a stitch-by-stitchbasis. A portion 5 a around a boundary between the heel portion 5 as thereciprocating-rotation portion and the foot portion 4 as theforward-rotation portion and a portion 5 b around a boundary between theheel portion 5 and the leg portion 6 are formed by selectively arrangingthe low-pile stitch P₁ and the high-pile stitch P₂ on a stitch-by-stitchbasis.

Moreover, the toe portion 3 as the reciprocating-rotation portion isformed by selectively arranging the low-pile stitch P₁ and the high-pilestitch P₂ on a stitch-by-stitch basis. A portion 3 a around a boundarybetween the toe portion 3 and the foot portion 4 as the forward-rotationportion is formed by selectively arranging the low-pile stitch P₁ andthe high-pile stitch P₂ on a stitch-by-stitch basis.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of the stitches in themulti-pile knitted fabric used for the sock shown in FIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 3, in the multi-pile knitted fabric 10, the plain stitch P₀, thelow-pile stitch P₁, and the high-pile stitch P₂ are arranged on astitch-by-stitch basis in one course extending in the course direction(i.e., the horizontal direction in FIG. 3). This arrangement enables acomplicated pile motif to be drawn. Moreover, this arrangement alsoenables smooth formation of a pile motif which includes the low-pilestitches P₁ and the high-pile stitches P₂ extending obliquely downward,in the portion of plain stitches P₀, as shown in FIG. 2.

In the sock 1 of this preferred embodiment, the low-pile stitch P₁ andthe high-pile stitch P₂ preferably are selectively arranged on astitch-by-stitch basis in the portion of plain stitches P₀ (as in theheel portion 5, for example) in the same course. Also, the high-pilestitch P₂ is selectively arranged on a stitch-by-stitch basis in theportion of low-pile stitch P₁ (as in the foot portion 4 and the legportion 6, for example) in the same course. Thus, a fine pile motif canbe formed on the surface of the sock 1 and a three-dimensionalappearance can be provided to the sock 1.

In addition, the sock 1 of this preferred embodiment can provide acushioning effect depending on the magnitude of the load applied to theknitting structure when the sock 1 is worn.

Moreover, in the toe portion 3 of the sock 1 of this preferredembodiment, strips of the low-pile stitches P₁ and strips of the plainstitches P₀ are alternately arranged and strips of the high-pilestitches P₂ and other strips of the low-pile stitches P₁ are alternatelyarranged, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the landing pressure applied tothe toe portion 3 can be distributed without making the entire toeportion 3 thicker so that breathability of the sock 1 is ensured. Also,in the foot portion 4 of the sock 1 of this preferred embodiment, around portion of the plain stitches P0 is arranged to correspond to athenar eminence. Therefore, when a person wearing this sock 1 steps onthe ground or an object, the person can easily get a feeling or impactfrom the ground or an object under his/her foot. In addition, high-pilestitches P₂ are arranged at and around the boundary between the footportion 4 and the leg portion 6 in the sock 1 of this preferredembodiment. Therefore, a load applied to this portion by contact with anupper edge of a shoe can be reduced. Furthermore, the sock 1 of thispreferred embodiment includes at least one strip of high-pile stitchesP₂ and at least one strip of low-pile stitches P₁ extending obliquelydownward in the leg portion 6. The strips can support human muscles andprovide a massage effect.

Next, an exemplary method for forming the multi-pile knitted fabricaccording to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention isdescribed. A circular knitting machine for forming the multi-pileknitted fabric of this preferred embodiment is arranged to form aplurality of types of knitting structures by selectively moving a pairof sinkers in and out of between knitting needles which arereciprocating. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary circular knitting machine forforming the multi-pile knitted fabric of this preferred embodiment andillustrates a difference of a nib position between a low-pile sinker anda high-pile sinker opposed to each other.

The multi-pile knitted fabric 10 of this preferred embodiment is formedby the circular knitting machine including a pair of sinkers 20. Thepair of sinkers 20 includes a low-pile sinker 21 and a high-pile sinker25. The low-pile sinker 21 includes a low-pile nib 22 arranged to holdpile yarn 91 when a low-pile stitch P₁ is formed and a small nib 23arranged to hold ground yarn 92. The high-pile sinker 25 is arranged tohave a high-pile nib 26 that holds pile yarn 91 when a high-pile stitchP₂ is formed. The low-pile nib 22 and the small nib 23 provided in thelow-pile sinker 21 and the high-pile nib 26 provided in the high-pilesinker 25 are different in a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 4, andthe distance H2 between the small nib 23 and the high-pile nib 26 in thevertical direction is longer than the distance H1 between the small nib23 and the low-pile nib 22. Due to this distance difference (leveldifference), the circular knitting machine in this preferred embodimentcan form different knitting structures including different sinker-looplengths.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are side views of the sinkers 20, which show howpile yarn and ground yarn are held in the circular knitting machine whena plain stitch, a low-pile stitch, and a high-pile stitch are formed,respectively. Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, when stitches areformed, sinker-loop lengths thereof are decided in accordance withdistances from contact points P₂₂, P₂₃, and P₂₆ between the pile yarn 91and the ground yarn 92 and the nibs 22, 23, and 26 to a contact pointP₁₁ between the pile yarn 91 and the ground yarn 92 and a knittingneedle 11. More specifically, the type of the knitting structure can bechanged depending on which one of the nibs (i.e., the low-pile nib 22,the small nib 23, and the high-pile nib 26) holds the pile yarn 91 andthe ground yarn 92 when the knitting needle 11 is drawing the pile yarn91 and the ground yarn 92 into an old loop. The nib for holding the pileyarn 91 and the ground yarn 92 can be selected by selectively moving thelow-pile sinker 21 and the high-pile sinker 25 forward, as shown inFIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C.

FIG. 5A shows a case where the both the low-pile sinker 21 and thehigh-pile sinker 25 are not moved from predetermined positions withrespect to the knitting needle 11, that is, not moved forward. In thiscase, both the pile yarn 91 and the ground yarn 92 are held by the smallnib 23 of the low-pile sinker 21. In this state, the distance D₉₁ fromthe contact point P₂₃ between the pile yarn 91 and the small nib 23 tothe contact point P₁₁ between the pile yarn 91 and the knitting needle11 is equal to the distance D₉₂ from the contact point P₂₃ between theground yarn 92 and the small nib 23 to the contact point P₁₁ between theground yarn 92 and the knitting needle 11. Therefore, when the knittingneedle 11 draws the pile yarn 91 and the ground yarn 92 into an old loopin the state shown in FIG. 5A, a plain stitch P₀ in which thesinker-loop length of the pile yarn 91 is the same as that of the groundyarn 92 is formed.

FIG. 5B shows a case where only the low-pile sinker 21 is moved from thepredetermined position with respect to the knitting needle 11 toward theknitting needle 11 by a distance L (i.e., only the low-pile sinker 21 ismoved forward). In this case, the pile yarn 91 is held by the low-pilenib 22 of the low-pile sinker 21 and the ground yarn 92 is held by thesmall nib 23 of the low-pile sinker 21. In this state, the distance D₉₁from the contact point P₂₂ between the pile yarn 91 and the low-pile nib22 to the contact point P₁₁ between the pile yarn 91 and the knittingneedle 11 is different from the distance D₉₂ from the contact point P₂₃between the ground yarn 92 and the small nib 23 to the contact point P₁₁between the ground yarn 92 and the knitting needle 11 by a distance H1.Therefore, when the knitting needle 11 draws the pile yarn 91 and theground yarn 92 into an old loop in the state of FIG. 5B, a low-pilestitch P₁ in which the sinker-loop length of the pile yarn 91 is longerthan that of the ground yarn 92 is formed. The sinker-loop length of thepile yarn 91 is twice the distance H1, for example.

FIG. 5C shows a case where both the low-pile sinker 21 and the high-pilesinker 25 are moved from the predetermined positions with respect to theknitting needle 11 toward the knitting needle 11 by the distance L(i.e., the both the sinkers 21 and 25 are moved forward). In this case,the pile yarn 91 is held by the high-pile nib 26 of the high-pile sinker25 and the ground yarn 92 is held by the small nib 23 of the low-pilesinker 21. In this case, the distance D₉₁ from the contact point P₂₆between the pile yarn 91 and the high-pile nib 26 to the contact pointP₁₁ between the pile yarn 91 and the knitting needle 11 is differentfrom the distance D₉₂ from the contact point P₂₂ between the ground yarn92 and the small nib 23 to the contact point P₁₁ between the ground yarn92 and the knitting needle 91 by a distance H2 which is longer than thedistance H1 in this example. Therefore, when the knitting needle 11draws the pile yarn 91 and the ground yarn 92 into an old loop in thestate of FIG. 5C, a high-pile stitch P₂ is formed in which thesinker-loop length of the pile yarn 91 is longer than that of the groundyarn 92 and is twice the distance H2, for example.

According to the multi-pile knitted fabric 10 of this preferredembodiment, it is possible that the low-pile stitch P₁ and the high-pilestitch P2 are selectively arranged on a stitch-by-stitch basis in thesame course in a portion of the plain stitches P₀ and the high-pilestitch P₂ is selectively arranged on a stitch-by-stitch basis in thesame course in a portion of the low-pile stitches P₁. Therefore, a finepile motif can be drawn and formed on the surface of the sock 1, thusproviding a three-dimensional appearance.

Moreover, the sock 1 including the above multi-pile knitted fabric 10can make the leg portion and the foot portion, which have an importantrole to improve the fashionability, more fashionable in a suitablemanner and can enhance functions, e.g., wearing comfort. Especially,when a complicated pile motif is formed in the toe portion 3 and theheel portion 5 which are formed by reciprocating rotation or is formedcontinuously with another portion than the toe portion 3 and the heelportion 5, thereby providing a three-dimensional appearance. Highfashionability can be presented both outside where shoes are worn on thesocks and indoors where the shoes are taken off.

In The multi-pile knitted fabric 10 described above, the low-pile stitchP₁ and the high-pile stitch P₂ can be selectively arranged on astitch-by-stitch basis. It is therefore possible to arrange at least oneof the low-pile stitch P1 and the high-pile stitch P2 at a desiredlocation only. This enables yarn to be saved while the multi-pileknitted fabric 10 is manufactured. Thus, a manufacturing cost of socks,Japanese socks or the like which use this multi-pile knitted fabric 10can be reduced.

The sock 1 including the multi-pile knitted fabric 10 according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention, which can providethe aforementioned advantageous effects, is described above. Socks 1A to1C and a Japanese sock 1D according to the second to fifth preferredembodiments of the present invention which will be described later canalso provide the aforementioned advantageous effects and additionaleffects in terms of functionality. Next, the second to fifth preferredembodiments of the present invention will be described.

Second Preferred Embodiment

A sock (knit product) 1A according to the second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described. FIG. 6 is a developed viewof a toe portion of the sock 1A according to the second preferredembodiment. The legend symbols refer to types of knitting structures.Referring to FIG. 6, a region 51 corresponds to a sole-side portion whenthis sock is worn, a region 52 corresponds to an instep-side portionwhen this sock is worn, and a boundary 53 between the regions 51 and 52corresponds to a toe portion when this sock is worn.

The sock 1A includes the multi-pile knitted fabric (knitted fabric withdifferent pile lengths) 10 described in the first preferred embodimentin which a pile motif is formed preferably by selectively arranging inthe same course a low-pile stitch (second knitting structure) P₁ and thehigh-pile stitch (third knitting structure) P₂ on a stitch-by-stitchbasis in a region of plain stitches (first knitting structure) P₀, or byselectively arranging in the same course the high-pile stitch P₂ on astitch-by-stitch basis in a region of low-pile stitches P₁. The pilemotif is formed in a reciprocating-rotation portion knitted byreciprocating rotation of a cylinder of a circular knitting machine andin a portion extending across the reciprocating-rotation region and aforward-rotation region knitted by forward rotation of the cylinder.

Any of the first, second, and third knitting structures, i.e., the plainstitch P₀, the low-pile stitch P₁, and the high-pile stitch P₂, isselected in accordance with a distance between the knitting structureand skin of a person when the person wears the sock 1A. Morespecifically, in the sock 1A having the rounded toe, the low-pilestitches P₁ and the high-pile stitches P₂ are arranged in portions wherethe knitting structure is far from the skin, i.e., portions 55corresponding to spaces between toes, a portion 56 of the sole portioncorresponding to bases of the toes, and portions 57 of the instepportion corresponding to the bases of the toes when someone wears thissock 1A, for example. Moreover, in a region where the distance betweenthe knitting structure and the skin is larger, the pile stitches P₂having a longer sinker-loop length of pile yarn 91 are arranged.

The sock 1A of this preferred embodiment includes the multi-pile knittedfabric 10 which allows the aforementioned knitting structures to bedistributed on a stitch-by-stitch basis. Thus it is possible to arrangethe low-pile stitches P₁ and the high-pile stitches P₂ precisely in theportions 55 corresponding to the spaces between the toes, the portion 56corresponding to the bases of the toes on the sole side, and theportions 57 corresponding to the bases of the toes on the instep sidewhen the sock 1A is worn. This arrangement enables the sock 1A toprovide enhanced wearing comfort between the toes and provide thefeeling similar to that provided by a five-toe sock.

Third Preferred Embodiment

A sock (knit product) 1B according to the third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is now described. FIG. 7 is a developed view of atoe portion of the sock according to the third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 7, the legend symbols refer to types ofknitting structures. As in the example of FIG. 6, the region 51corresponds to a portion adjacent to a foot-sole of a person when theperson wears the sock, the region 52 corresponds to a portion adjacentto an insole, and the boundary 53 between the regions 51 and 52corresponds to a portion adjacent to a toe.

The sock 1B includes the aforementioned multi-pile knitted fabric(knitted fabric with different pile lengths) 10 as in the secondpreferred embodiment. A pile motif is formed in a reciprocating-rotationportion knitted preferably by reciprocating rotation of a cylinder of acircular knitting machine and in a portion extending across thereciprocating-rotation portion and a forward-rotation portion knitted byforward rotation of the cylinder. In the sock 1B, based on the magnitudeof the load applied thereto when the sock 1B is worn, at least one ofthe first, second, and third knitting structures, i.e., the plain stitchP₀, the low-pile stitch P₁, and the high-pile stitch P₂ is selected sothat the respective portions of the sock 1B have an appropriatethickness. For example, in a portion arranged next to a toe when thesock 1B is worn, the low-pile stitches P₁ and the high-pile stitches P₂are arranged at positions to which a load is easily applied. Moreover,at a position to which a larger load is applied, the knitting structurehaving a longer sinker-loop length of the pile yarn 91 is arranged.

The sock 1B includes the multi-pile knitted fabric 10 which allows theaforementioned knitting structures to be distributed on astitch-by-stitch basis. Thus, the low-pile stitch P₁ and the high-pilestitch P₂ can be precisely arranged at locations to which a load isapplied. In addition, by arranging the low-pile stitch P₁ and thehigh-pile stitch P₂ in this manner, the thickness of that portion isincreased. Thus, damage applied to a foot of a person wearing the sock1B in the toe portion can be significantly reduced.

The portion to which a load is applied is varied depending on whatsports the person wearing the sock 1B plays. For example, in a casewhere a person wears the sock 1B in sports such as basketball, alaterally applied load is larger. In this case, the low-pile stitches P₁and the high-pile stitches P₂ are arranged in foot-side regions 61 and62 of the toe portion 3, as shown in FIG. 7. This arrangement cansignificantly reduce an impact applied to the foot of the person.Moreover, in a case where the high-pile stitches P₂ are arranged in theouter region 61 near a little toe or the fifth toe to make this portionthicker, the impact applied to the person's foot can be reduced moreeffectively.

Fourth Preferred Embodiment

A sock (knit product) 1C according to the fourth preferred embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described. FIG. 8 is a developed viewof the sock 1C according to the fourth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. In FIG. 8, the legend symbols refer to the types ofknitting structures, a region 64 corresponds to a sole portion when aperson wears the sock 1C, and a region 65 corresponds to an instepportion.

The sock 1C includes the aforementioned multi-pile knitted fabric(knitted fabric with different pile lengths) 10 as in the second andthird preferred embodiments. The pile motif in this example ispreferably formed in a reciprocating-rotation region knitted byreciprocating rotation of a cylinder of a circular knitting machine andin a region extending across the reciprocating-rotation region and aforward-rotation region knitted by forward rotation of the cylinder. Inthe sock 1C, any of the first, second, and third knitting structures,i.e., the plain stitch P₀, the low-pile stitch P₁, and the high-pilestitch P₂, is selected based on the distance between the knittingstructure and the person's skin when the sock 1C is worn. Morespecifically, in the sole portion of the sock 1C, the plain stitches P₀are arranged in a region 66 where the knitting structure is to becontact with the person's skin, and the low-pile stitches P₁ and thehigh-pile stitches P₂ are arranged around the region 66, for example.Moreover, in a region where the distance between the knitting structureand the person's skin is larger, the high-pile stitches P₂ having alonger sinker-loop length of pile yarn 91 are arranged.

The sock 1C of this preferred embodiment includes the multi-pile knittedfabric 10 which allows the aforementioned knitting structures to bedistributed on a stitch-by-stitch basis. Thus, it is possible toprecisely arrange the plain stitches P₀ in the region 66 where theknitting structure is to be in contact with the person's skin. It isalso possible to precisely arrange the low-pile stitches P₁ and thehigh-pile stitches P₂ in a region surrounding the region 66 based on thedistance from the person's skin when the person wears the sock 1C. Theknitting structure arranged in the region 66 and that arranged in thesurrounding region are different in the sinker-loop length of the pileyarn 91. Therefore, the thickness of the multi-pile knitted fabric isdifferent. Since the multi-pile knitted fabric is thicker in the regionaround the region 66 than in the region 66, the region 66 is formed tobe concave.

The concave portion of the sock 1C of this preferred embodiment ispreferably filled with any of silicone resin, acrylic resin, and vinylchloride resin, for example. Due to this filling, an anti-slip effectcan be provided between the skin and the resin when weight is applied,improving foot comfort. In other words, it is possible to precisely formthe concave portion at a location to be filled with the resin, i.e., inthe region to be contact with the skin.

Fifth Preferred Embodiment

A Japanese sock (knit product) 1D according to the fifth preferredembodiment of the present invention will now be described. FIG. 9 is aperspective view of the Japanese sock 1D of this preferred embodiment.The Japanese sock 1D includes in a toe portion 71 a pocket 72 thatcovers the first toe and another pocket 73 that covers other toes fromthe second toe to the little toe. In the Japanese sock 1D having theabove arrangement, the pockets 72 and 73 of the toe portion 71 and aheel portion 75 are knitted preferably by reciprocating rotation of acylinder of a circular knitting machine and are shaped by decreasing andincreasing stitches by knitting needles for a semicircle of the circularknitting machine. The boundary between the narrowing and the widening isreferred to as a gore line. In the example of FIG. 9, two gore lines 72a and 72 b are preferably provided on both sides of the pocket 72, andtwo gore lines 73 a and 73 b are preferably provided on both sides ofthe pocket 73.

The sock 1D includes the aforementioned multi-pile knitted fabric(knitted fabric with different pile lengths) 10 as in the second, third,and fourth preferred embodiments. The pile motif in this example isformed in a reciprocating rotation region knitted by reciprocatingrotation of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine and in aregion extending across the reciprocating rotation region and aforward-rotation region knitted by forward rotation of the cylinder. Inaddition, selection of the low-pile stitch P₁ as the second knittingstructure and the high-pile stitch P₂ as the third knitting structure isperformed so that the gore lines 72 a, 72 b, 73 a, and 73 b in the sock1D are defined by the low-pile stitch P₁ or high-pile stitch P₂.

The Japanese sock 1D of this preferred embodiment includes themulti-pile knitted fabric 10 which allows the aforementioned knittingstructures to be distributed on a stitch-by-stitch basis even in thereciprocating rotation region. Due to this, it is possible to preciselyarrange the low-pile stitch P1 or the high-pile stitch P2 in regionsserving as the gore lines 72 a, 72 b, 73 a, and 73 b. Therefore, astretched feeling at the gore lines can be reduced because of a stretcheffect of the pile yarn 91.

The multi-pile knitted fabric described in the first to fifth preferredembodiments can be applied to various leg wears such as tights, Japanesesocks, pantyhose, stockings, and supporters, and can be also applied toother knit products worn on other portions than the legs, such asgloves, for example.

In the second to fifth preferred embodiments, the socks 1A to 1C and theJapanese sock 1D are described as examples of a sock or a Japanese sock(knit product) including the multi-pile knitted fabric according to thepresent invention. However, the features described in the second tofifth preferred embodiments can be combined in an appropriate manner.

In the above preferred embodiments, the multi-pile knitted fabricpreferably including the basic knitting structure, i.e., the plainstitch P₀ is described as an example. However, the present invention isnot limited thereto. In place of the plain stitch P₀, a varied knittingstructure, i.e., a float stitch, a tuck stitch, a cut-boss stitch can beapplied, for example. Moreover, a pile motif can be drawn by selectivelyarranging the low-pile stitch (the second knitting structure) P₁ and thehigh-pile stitch (the third knitting structure) P₂ on a stitch-by-stitchbasis in a region including only one of the knitting structures such asthe plain stitch, the float stitch, the tuck stitch, and the cut-bossstitch, or a region including two or more of those knitting structures.

Furthermore, the knitted fabric with different pile lengths according tovarious preferred embodiments of the present invention can includereinforcing yarn in the knitting structure.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention,therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A knitted fabric including different pile lengthsin which a pile motif is formed by a knitting machine capable of forminga plurality of knitting structures of ground yarn and pile yarn in asame course by selectively moving sinkers in and out of betweenreciprocating knitting needles; wherein the plurality of knittingstructures include: a first knitting structure defining one of a basicknitting structure and a varied knitting structure; a second knittingstructure in which a sinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longer thana sinker-loop length of the ground yarn; and a third knitting structurein which the sinker-loop length of the pile yarn is longer than in thesecond knitting structure; and the pile motif is formed by selectivelyarranging the second knitting structure and the third knitting structureon a stitch-by-stitch basis in a region of the first knitting structurein a same course, or by selectively arranging the third knittingstructure on a stitch-by-stitch basis in a region of the second knittingstructure in the same course.
 2. A knitted fabric according to claim 1,wherein a forward-rotation region formed by forward rotation of acylinder of the knitting machine and a reciprocating rotation regionformed by reciprocating rotation of the cylinder are provided, and thepile motif is arranged in the reciprocating rotation region.
 3. Aknitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein a forward-rotation regionformed by forward rotation of a cylinder of the knitting machine and areciprocating rotation region formed by reciprocating rotation of thecylinder are provided, and the pile motif is arranged to extend acrossthe forward-rotation region and the reciprocating rotation region.
 4. Aknit product including the knitted fabric according to claim
 1. 5. Aknit product according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the firstknitting structure, the second knitting structure, and the thirdknitting structure is selectively arranged in accordance with a distancebetween the selected knitting structure and skin when the knit productis worn.
 6. A knit product according to claim 4, wherein at least one ofthe first knitting structure, the second knitting structure, and thethird knitting structure is selectively arranged in accordance with amagnitude of a load applied thereto when the knit product is worn.
 7. Aknit product according to claim 4, wherein a gore line is defined by atleast one of the second knitting structure and the third knittingstructure.
 8. A sock including the knitted fabric according to claim 1.9. A sock according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the firstknitting structure, the second knitting structure, and the thirdknitting structure is selectively arranged in accordance with a distancebetween the selected knitting structure and skin when the sock is worn.10. A sock according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the firstknitting structure, the second knitting structure, and the thirdknitting structure is selectively arranged in accordance with amagnitude of a load applied thereto when the sock is worn.
 11. A sockaccording to claim 8, wherein a gore line is defined by at least one ofthe second knitting structure and the third knitting structure.